Alumna Featured at Military Prayer Breakfast

By Rachel Judy | April 9, 2012

Winsome Sears '03 (Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship)

A tradition at Regent University, the Spring Military Prayer Breakfast regularly attracts both military service members and civilians to campus for prayer and fellowship. Held this year on Thursday, April 5, the event featured Regent alumna Winsome Sears '03 (Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship).

A Marine Corps veteran, former Virginia state legislator and former congressional candidate, Sears spoke about faith and the importance of God's word in building and sustaining faith in tough times. "We won't understand the methods God uses. God does what [He] wants to," she said. "God says: 'you are successful the minute you set yourself up to obey Me.'"

Drawing from her own personal experiences, Sears pointed out that most people consider it easier to worry than have faith. "He tells you 'do not worry' and what do we do? We worry," she observed. "If you can worry, you can meditate."

Citing examples from both the Old and New Testaments, Sears emphasized that faith and obedience are ultimately what sustain God's people. "Faith always begins with the Word of God," she explained. "You live by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

The service also featured readings from former servicemen and women, including Marshall Boney, USN (Ret.); Dr. Bob Dyer, USMC veteran and assistant professor in the Robertson School of Government; Martha Smith, USNR veteran; Chelsey Stimson, USN veteran and student in Regent School of Undergraduate Studies; Sean Hoster, USMC (Ret.); and Regent's director of military affairs, David Boisselle, USN (Ret.).

"At Regent, 'Christ-first' is more than an espoused value—we walk the talk," Boisselle explained. "Our prayer breakfast speaker personally testified to the requirement to put Christ first in her life. By sharing a word with our military community, she reinforced that vital concept to us."

Sears, author of the book Stop Being a Christian Wimp! was recently appointed to Virginia's Board of Education and is the owner of Shenandoah Appliance Plumbing and Electric. Sears has ministered at a men's detention facility, worked as a VISTA volunteer to teach adults to read, moderated regional community discussions on education reform, served on panels studying the issue of religious freedom, and served as a PTA vice-president.

The Office of Military Affairs seeks to create a military-friendly academic environment where active, veteran and retired servicemen and women and their families can pursue their academic, professional, personal and spiritual goals.